Apparatus for continuous chemical cleaning and conditioning of paper mill wet felts



May 14, 1957 D. A. HUBER 2,792,258

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CHEMICAL CLEANING AND CONDITIONING OF PAPER MILL. WET FELTS Filed NOV. 18, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

May 14, 1957 D. A. HUBER APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CHEMICAL CLEANING AND CONDITIONING OF PAPER MILL WET FELTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1954 United States Patent APPARATUS FOR CONT NUOUS CHEMICAL G AND CONDITIONING OF PAPER MILL WET FELTS Dudley A. Huber, To c'coa, Ga.

Application November 18, 1954, Serial No. 469,738

1 Claim. (Cl. 299-'-84) This invention relates to chemical means and system for continuous wet felt cleaning and conditioning and proposes certain improvements in'rny prior United States Patent 2,680,997, dated June 15, 1954.

' My 'prior patent application,-Serial No. 176,775, filed July 29, 1 950, now abandoned, for a composition for lengthening the life of paper mill wet felts discloses a composition which contains a detergent agent'and a bactericide, and where desired, a dispersing agent. This composition greatly prolongs the useful life of felts, more particularly wet felts such as are used in paper mills.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present in vention to provide apparatus and a system for continuous chemical cleaning and conditioning of paper mill wet felts using this product in the aforesaid application.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for applying my product which if manufactured has a great many advantages over the mechanical means new employed for cleaning and conditioning of wet felts, the actual life of wet felts in some instances being doubled by application of the present system.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system for applying my product wherein better chemical apportioning pump operation is obtained.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system of the above type wherein a single large filter is employed to advantage over the previously disclosed two small filter units of my prior patent.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing the process and apparatus embodying the features of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. l of a modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a drum containing my improved product connected to a pump 11 by means of copper suction piping 12, substantially as illustrated.

The pump delivers the product to a line 13 through a bleeder plug 14, a return line 15 connecting the line 13 with the drum 10 above the bleeder 14. The line 15 includes a safety valve 16 while the drum 10 includes a sight level gauge 17.

The discharge line 13 is connected to the line 18 and includes a needle valve 19 and a gauge 20, the line 13 being suitably connected to the first, second and third press showers and felt or pick up showers disclosed in my prior patent.

An inlet Water supply line 21 connects with the line 18 and includes a main valve 22, water being supplied to the water supply line 21 in the direction of the arrow of Fig. l at 50 to 75 pounds per square inch.

The drum 10 is supported above the level of the pump 11 on platform or support 23.

2,792,258 Patented May 14, 1957 2 In operation, clear fluid is obtained from the bleeder plug 14 before opening the needle valve 19. Clear fluid is obtained from the line before opening the valve 19 whereupon the needle valve 19 is set to build up presice sure in the system. The needle valve 19 is regulated to maintain pressure in gauge 20 at least 20 pounds per square inch above theexpected water pressure. The safety valve 16 is set at 140 pounds persquare inch as received. If the drum 10 is allowed to go dry or if any air is allowed to enter the pump, it will be necessary to repeat the above procedure. The incoming water, controlled by valve 22, passes through pipe 21 where it is mixed with the compound from discharge line'13, delivered from the drum 10 by a pump 11, passing through the. gauge 20. The solution then is delivered into the sprays or showers and onto the wet felts.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, there is shown a modified form of the present invention and including a drum 24 containing my improved product and connected to apump- 25 by means of copper suction piping 26, the line 26 including a valve 27 and a sightlevel gauge 28. The outlet of thepump 25 is connected to a-line29 of copper, including a petcock 30 and a return line of copper 31. The pump 25, as is the pump 11 of the first form, is an apportioning pump operated by a one-third horse power 110 volt A. C. motor 32. One terminal is connected to a source of power by a conductor 33.

The return line 31 includes a relief valve.

The upper end of the line 29 is connected to an outlet line 35 and a water supply line 36 by means of a T 37, the water supply line including a solenoid valve 38.

The line 29 includes a guage 39 and a needle valve 40.

The line 35 is connected to a 100 mesh monel filter 41 having an outlet line 42, the filter 41 including the gauges 43 and 44, while the line 42 includes a pressure control valve 45 and a guage 46. The filter 41 also includes a quick opening valve 47. The valve 45 is a pressure control valve.

The line 42 connects with the first press shower 48, the second press shower 49 and the third press felt or pick up felt shower 50, disposed over wet felts 51, 52 and 53 respectively.

A Honeywell pressure control 54 is connected to the main line 42, one terminal of the pressure control being connected to a suitable source of power by means of a conductor 55. The other terminal of the pressure control 54 is connected to the other terminal of pump 25 by means of a conductor 56.

A saving in both steam and electricity has been obtained using the above system and apparatus. Suction presses have been kept in a more satisfactory condition, as regards plugging and sliming. The system, it will be noted, uses a spray across the width of the wet felt. The above systems and equipment supply the correct proportion of the compound as a solution of the sprays and at the proper pressure. The pressure through 54 cuts out the pump 25 when water pressure falls below that necessary to operate the sprays.

It should be apparent that there has been provided chemical means and systems for continuous wet felt cleaning and conditioning. Tests with the above systems and apparatus have shown substantial savings in paper mills.

In operation, the incoming water controlled by water valve 33 passes through pipe 36 and into line 35 where it is mixed with the compound from line 29 delivered from the drum 24 by pump 25, passing through the gauge 39. The solution then courses through filter 41 and into the main line 42 through the pressure control valve 45. The solution is then delivered on the wet felts from the sprays or showers 48, 49, providing a means and system for continuous vwet felt cleaning and conditioning. V I

It will be noted that a solenoid valve is incorporated in the water supply line to the apparatus in order to provide for remote control of theentire apparatus; starting and stopping same by button switch located on the machine control panel.

ditioning ofv paper mill wetsfelts. comprising a plurality of press, showersi connected to a continuous source of water, a, reservoir of ,a conditioning compound, pumping means connected with said reservoir for delivering said conditioning compound into the water line connecting with said press showers, a monel filter having a quick opening valve at the bottom thereof and a pair of gauges .at the top thereof, said filter being located intermediate the introduction of the compound and said press showers, a pressure responsive switch connected to the said water line and electrical means for controlling the pumping means, whereby to turn ofi said pumping means operate said press showers, said pumping means comprising a pump and tubing connecting the pump with the said reservoir, and tubing connecting the said pump with the said water line, and return line means to said reservoir intermediate the outlet of said pumping means and the inlet of said water supply means, said return line means including a relief valve, said line connecting said pump with said reservoir including a valve and a sight level gauge, said line connecting said pump with said water supply including a petcock, a pressure control valve intermediate said filter and said press showers and a gauge therefor, said line connecting said pump with said water supply inlet including a needle valve and a gauge, and a valve in said water supply line, said valve being solenoid operated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,050,752 Poole Jan. 14, 1913 1,097,090 Gray May 19, 1914 1,587,583 Garland June 8, 1926 2,266,205 Hunter Dec. 16, 1941 2,524,336 Vokes Oct. 3, 1950 2,680,997 Huber June 15, 1954 

